Rule



R. C. LEE

Dec. 9, 1941.

RULE

Filed Nov. 4, 1940 MN w J rm 3 H? 31 3 1 O Q .m a G G 'J \N h flay G Le INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STAT ES ATJ-Eihi 'i G F FI CE RULE Roy 0. Lee, Midway City, Calif.

Application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,306

'2 Claims.

The present invention relates :to improvements in rules and has foran object to'provide a rule of generally improved design.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a .rule constructed to obviate warping thereof so as to maintain ruling edges and measuring scales thereon straight and accurate.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rule of the aforesaid character which is strong and durable and which is useful for a number of purposes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a broken top plan view of a rule constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 6,

Figure 3 is a similar View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the rule.

Referring to the drawing, wherein is illustrated a preferred example of the invention, 10 designates the body of my improved rule which consists of a fiat elongated strip preferably formed of transparent material such as plastic or other known transparent substance. To the opposed longitudinal edges of the body iii are secured strips ll of metal or the like mounted to adhere to the parallel edges of the body and firmly held in position by cross bars I2 extending transverse- 1y through the body at longitudinally spaced intervals formed at the ends with tapered heads I3 designed to fit flush in correspondingly shaped countersunk openings in the strips II. The end edges of the transparent body ID are likewise covered by transverse metallic strips I4 firmly secured thereto and which abut the ends of the side strips I I.

The under side or face of the body bears measuring markings, in the present instance embodying transverse lines I5 disposed at intervals of one inch graduated along one margin by subdivision lines it dividing the major inch lines l5 into quarter fractions, while the opposite longitudinal margin is graduated to divide each one inch division into fractional divisions of one-half, one quarter and one-eighth fractional parts. This under surface of the rule isalso marked with a plurality of,-in the present instance four, longitudinal lines ll spaced from the margin bearing the quarter inch divisions It at transverse quarter inch spacing intervals, as shown to advantage at Figure 1.

At the medial portion the rule body It) is provided with a slot l8 forming a pocket in which is firmly set a level device l9 which may be of conventional construction embodying a tubular container containing liquid spirit and may have a transparent longitudinally directed sight opening registering with a corresponding opening in.

the edge of the rule, as illustrated at Figure 5.

Pivotally connected to the rule body at a position offset from the transverse center line, through the medium of a pivot pin 20, is an elongated fiat bar 2i also preferably formed of transparent material, narrower than the rule body Ill and designed to provide a T-head which may be clamped in adjusted position by a thumb nut 22. The head bar 2! is normally disposed in longitudinally extending position against the bottom side of the rule as shown at Figure 6 and is turned to a right angular position, as illustrated at Figure 1, when the rule is to be employed as a T-square.

Fastened to the rule body and projecting from the bottom face thereof to support the rule in elevated position on a surface to be measured or marked, are a plurality of studs 23 which may constitute button-shaped elements formed of cushioning frictional material such as soft rub-' ber arranged at longitudinally spaced intervals in transversely spaced pairs. These studs are mounted so that the inner portions are tightly embedded in the rule body while similar portions project downwardly therefrom as shown to advantage at Figure 4. These stud elements serve to support the ruler in elevated position on the work surface to protect the markings on the under surface against wear, to facilitate line drawing without smearing of undried ink and to firmly hold the ruler against slipping.

I have found that such a ruler measuring one and one-half inches in width and thirty-six inches in length provides a convenient size although these dirnensions may be varied to suit particular needs. It affords a rule which enables speedy and accurate measurement and line drafting and is susceptible of a variety of uses, being applicable as a level device and a T-square in addition to its measuring and ruling functions.

The construction thereof embodying the transparent body strip of elongated cross section having the side and end edges covered by rigid strips of metal or the like forms a device which is effectively protected against warping or other distortion and which will afiord an accurate measuring and ruling implement which is very durable.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1.' In a ruling device, an elongated body having measure markings thereon, a pivot extended transversely through the body adjacent to and spaced from one end thereof, an elongated strip attached to the "pivot and disposed against the under face of the body, the said strip being of a length substantially greater than the width of the body and mounted on the pivot so that when disposed in longitudinally extending position its ends are short of the ends of the body, and a plurality of studs attached to and projecting from the under side of the body to support the body and the strip above a working surface.

2. In a ruling device, an elongated rectangular shaped body having measure lines and markings, a pivot pin extended through the body adjacent to and spaced from one end thereof, a strip attached to the lower end of the pivot pin below the body, the said strip having a length exceeding the width of the body and having its width less than the width of the body so that when the strip is in longitudinally disposed position relative to the body its ends are short of the ends of the body and its side edges short of the side edges of the body, the said strip being movable A to angular position to form a T-head, a nut threadedly connected with the pivot pin for releasably tightening the pivot for securing the strip in adjusted arrangement, and a plurality of studs attached to and projecting from the under face of the body to support the body and strip above the working surface on which the device is positioned.

ROY C. LEE. 

